Post by pavel on Apr 12, 2016 3:18:00 GMT -6
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration is reworking its approach to hiring the staff needed to handle his Medicaid expansion effort, after getting pushback from lawmakers who bristled at adding employees to a state government brimming with budget problems.
“We’re not hiring staff anymore because the Legislature spoke very clearly,” said Jeff Reynolds, chief financial officer for the Department of Health and Hospitals.
The agency initially proposed adding nearly 250 new workers to handle enrollment of the thousands of people expected to qualify for Medicaid under an eligibility expansion. But the hiring proposal was put on hold in January as the Democratic governor’s administration ran into concerns from Republican lawmakers.
Under a revised plan, the Edwards administration might be able to sidestep lawmakers.
The health department now intends to beef up an outside contracting deal with the University of New Orleans to augment agency staff. Reynolds said UNO will have as many as 200 short-term employees who will do the eligibility review for Medicaid expansion.
Read more: theadvocate.com/news/15461764-123/health-department-revamps-medicaid-expansion-hiring-plan
“We’re not hiring staff anymore because the Legislature spoke very clearly,” said Jeff Reynolds, chief financial officer for the Department of Health and Hospitals.
The agency initially proposed adding nearly 250 new workers to handle enrollment of the thousands of people expected to qualify for Medicaid under an eligibility expansion. But the hiring proposal was put on hold in January as the Democratic governor’s administration ran into concerns from Republican lawmakers.
Under a revised plan, the Edwards administration might be able to sidestep lawmakers.
The health department now intends to beef up an outside contracting deal with the University of New Orleans to augment agency staff. Reynolds said UNO will have as many as 200 short-term employees who will do the eligibility review for Medicaid expansion.
Read more: theadvocate.com/news/15461764-123/health-department-revamps-medicaid-expansion-hiring-plan